Kargil Vijay Diwas: Messages lauding valour of armed forces pour in

The Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year for three days to commemorate India's emphatic victory against Pakistan.

New Delhi, July 24: The Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate India's victory in the Kargil conflict with Pakistan nineteen years ago. The Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year for three days to commemorate India's emphatic victory against Pakistan and to remember the supreme sacrifice of 500 bravehearts who laid down their lives for the country.

Here is what some prominent leaders posted on Twitter on the occation of Vijay Diwas:

President Ram Nath Kovind

During the first week of May 1999, India received reports of infiltrators from across the border coming into Kargil occupying it. The security forces initially thought they were Mujahideen, but they soon realized that it was the Pakistani army that had occupied some of the posts. In reaction to the infiltration, India launched Operation Vijay to drive the Pakistani troops out of Kargil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

"India will always remember with pride, the outstanding political leadership provided by Atal Ji during Operation Vijay. He led from the front, supported our armed forces and clearly articulated India's stand at the world stage," PM Modi said in another tweet.

BJP President Amit Shah

This was the first war between India and Pakistan after the war in 1971, which led to the formation of Bangladesh.

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal

Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the Prime Minister at that time.

Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani

Operation Vijay was launched to clear the Kargil sector of infiltration by Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri terrorists on the Indian side of the LoC The war was fought in May-July 1999 in Kargil and also along the LoC.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala

Safed Sagar, the IAF's operation was a major one. Air power at at the height of 32,000 feet was used for the first time to identify Pakistan troops and infiltrators. Operation Vijay was declared successful on July 28, 19 years back. Vajpayee declared the operation as successful on July 14, but it was officially declared closed on July 26 1999.

BJP

India lost more than 500 of its men. Pakistan on the other hand lost 3,000 of their men including terrorists. The Kargil war was a rare instance of a war being fought by two nuclear states. Kargil was the toughest war due to a high-altitude warfare. Such wars are considered most dangerous due to rough terrain and natural habitat.